Reeling in the years: 2019 for Ireland's LGBT+ community

It’s been a memorable year for Ireland’s LGBT+ community. Here are just some of the highlights that took place across the country over the past 365 days.

LGBT+
Image Source: Panti Bliss in Winter Pride 2019 Stage

01 January
NXF TURNS 40
The National LGBT+ Federation, publishers of GCN and campaigners for the equal rights of queer people in Ireland, turns 40. Happy birthday!

02 April
AILBHE SMYTH HONOURED IN TIME MAGAZINE
Ailbhe, along with fellow former Co-Directors of Together for Yes, Grainne Griffin and Orla O’Connor, are listed in Time’s 100 Most Influential People List.

03 April
THIS IS ME SIT-IN
Following a sit-in at the Department of Health, activists from This Is Me, the campaign for trans healthcare, secure a meeting with Minister for Health, Simon Harris to demand promises be fulfilled.

04 June
DUBLIN HOSTS THE UNION CUP
Irish host team, the Emerald Warriors, win the bid to host Europe’s biggest LGBT+ inclusive rugby tournament featuring 45 teams from 15 countries.

05 June
HIRSCHFELD CENTRE REMEMBERED
Senator David Norris and Dublin Lord Mayor Paul McAuliffe unveil a plaque commemorating the historic LGBT+ Hirschfeld Centre at a ceremony in Temple Bar.

06 June
STONEWALL ANNIVERSARY
Across the country, the LGBT+ community take time to remember and commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, with many Pride events using it as their theme.

07 June
DUBLIN PRIDE
After many years and many protests, including a petition launched by GCN, Dublin Pride finally travels down O’Connell St again. The Parade is led by ACT UP member and Grand Marshall, Will St Leger

08 June
ALTERNATIVE PRIDE
Queer Action Ireland invite the LGBT+ community to an Alternative Pride as they believe Dublin Pride has become sanitised and contradicts the spirit of Stonewall.

09 June/July
NEW PRIDE CELEBRATIONS LAUNCHED
June sees Wexford holds its inaugural Pride event, as people assemble in Redmond Park, while in July, Tipperary Pride sees Thurles host the county’s first ever Pride celebrations.

10 August
LOVE SENSATION MAKES A SPLASH
The new two-day music festival for Ireland’s LGBT+ community and their pals makes a stunning debut in the grounds of Royal Hospital Kilmainham. Here’s to next year’s party!

11 August
BLACK PRIDE IRELAND LAUNCHES
Black Pride Ireland is set up by queer Black people aiming to create safe spaces accessible to Black LGBT+ people living in Ireland.

12 September
DISCO AT THE DÁIL
Hundreds gather outside the Dáil to dance in protest at Vice President Mike Pence’s visit. They share the message: “Mike Pence’s values are rooted in an Ireland that doesn’t exist.”

13 October
EQUALITY FOR CHILDREN
Due to the unacceptable lack of support for LGBT+ parents by the Government, Equality For Children forms to raise awareness of the inequalities faced by families.

14 October
CORK LGBT+ ARCHIVE
The Cork LGBT+ archive – a collection relating to the history of the county’s queer activism- is preserved in the Digital Repository of Ireland.

15 October
NORTHERN IRISH EQUALITY
As the Stormont deadline passes, Northern Ireland sees their 158-year- long abortion ban lifted and equal marriage made law in a historic moment for the community.

16 November
PREP ON THE HSE
The Department of Health launches a national public access PrEP programme – a significant moment for Irish healthcare. The Government announce there will be widespread development to improve HIV prevention.

17 November
INTERSEX DAY OF SOLIDARITY
To commemorate Intersex Day of Solidarity and raise awareness, Dublin’s Mansion House lights up in purple. Members of Intersex Ireland are there for the event.

18 November
WINTER PRIDE
Dublin Pride holds its first ever Winter Pride Festival including the event – 50 Years of Pride: Songs and Stories in the National Concert Hall.

19 November
KISSING PROTEST ORGANISED
After a violent homophobic attack, the LGBT+ community organise Shift the Hate Away – a protest outside the Dáil calling on the Government to address the need for hate crime legislation.

20 December
FIRST LGBT+ HISTORY COURSE
University College Cork launch first course on LGBT+ history: ‘From Shame to Pride? A Short Introduction to LGBT+ Irish History (1970s- 2020)’.

© 2019 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.

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